Iron Pier

"You haven't sailed here?" Scott said with some surprise when I asked him if there was anything I needed to know about the spot. No, I hadn't. I'd heard Iron Pier mentioned once or twice, but I'd never sailed there. The windows were rattling Friday morning. Actually rattling. That doesn't happen much, and I thought Meschutt would be huge, and discussed a Meschutt sesh with Jeff. But the Wolf had bigger ideas.


It was just about low tide when we got there, with 5-7 foot swell packed very tight. The crowd included John H, Scott, Jason, and later Bill (in addition to the aforementioned Wolf, Peconic Jeff and myself.) Shorebreak wasn't too bad given the size of the waves...still we launched from the bit of sand right next to the jetty, which automatically gets you about ten feet of sea room from the rest of the beach. That was important, because we had about ten seconds to get going before we were in the waves.



Sail sizes were 3.7-4.2 for most of the day...I ranged from lit to well overpowered on a 4.0. There were a number of moments when we all just stood on the beach while 40+ knot gusts blew sand clear across the island. NW is on-sideon sailing at the Pier, though you've got to pinch upwind when heading out as there are some big rocks a few hundred yards east. Most of them are visible at low tide, but some are only exposed in the low points between passing swell. So I prudently headed up on my way out, catching lots of air (as if I had a choice). Once outside, the problem was to bear off overpowered coming down big swell faces.

I have never intentionally beared off in so much wind in my life. Combined with the downward slope, speed was not in short supply.

All in all it was an epic session. I will be returning to Iron Pier!

(Photos from the top: Puffin in flight, John H flashes the gold, Scott jibes between waves, the Wolf inbound. All photos by Barbaraellen Koch of the News-Review of Riverhead.)

(Iron Pier has been added to the Long Island Windsurfing Map.)

(Also check out Peconic Jeff's photos from the day!)

Comments

[Rach]

woah, that's a fantastic photo michael!

[Bunty]

Hey, looks like you had a really great time. What's the red chequered flag sail you're using? Never seen one like that before.
This end was a real stormy weekend with lots of rain which messes up the wind alot. Took some pics but nothing special. Bad news though cos kiter got dragged and killed. From what I have heard he was a foreigner on holiday not a local. So it was a bad day in that way yesterday - but having said that the weather was not particularly safe kiting weather cos it was squally - one minute force 7 the next force 3 with downpours of rain and hail.

[Michael]

Hi Rachael...glad you like it!

Bunty, I'm sailing a Superfreak...2004 vintage, I also have a blue and white checkered Superfreak as well (a 5.5).

Terrible news about the kiter. Sorry to hear that.